Lately Taiwan society has been perme-ated by a sense of uncertainty. There seem to be so many variables all the time, life is unpredictable, and the future is uncertain. Even more worrying is that this phenomenon is not confined to Taiwan; it seems the entire world is changing. The September 11 attacks on the US deepened this impression. After all, if even two landmark buildings in the most prosperous city in the world can suddenly be destroyed in peacetime, can anything be ruled out?

Perhaps because Taiwan is so small, global events impose a heavy burden on local residents. In the media and in private conversations people are asking: "Where is Taiwan going?" "Does Taiwan even have a future?" The economy is stagnant, and the stock and real estate markets are slow, causing even more frustration. Recently, some have argued that the media has been giving too much space to reports of social disorder and has been too critical and skeptical in public commentary.

Of course no one can deny that in recent years there's been a tendency toward sensationalism in the media. But the media itself is a product of society. It is unfair to put all the blame on the media.

An old saying goes: "Good news does not get out the door, bad news travels 1000 miles." And everyone knows that only news that is out of the ordinary-"man bites dog" not "dog bites man"-gets coverage. So we shouldn't be surprised. Moreover, in terms of some negative public commentary, the media's responsibility is to act as the eyes and ears of the public. This mechanism should be taken seriously, and even strengthened and diversified. What's wrong with that?

As for the prominence giving to scandals and the private lives of celebrities, there certainly are more and more reports of this nature in the electronic and print media. But who is really responsible? Everyone knows that the media is a commercial enterprise. If sensationalism is rampant, if the headline stories on the TV news are shocking family tragedies and grisly crime stories, and features on underwear fashion shows and scantily-clad betelnut babes everywhere, is this not because it is what the audience wants? Television stations want high ratings, while the print media focuses on circulation. If people refused to watch or read these kinds of reports, and companies did not take out advertisements in these media outlets, who would carry on money-losing operations? So who is it really that has the moral problem?

Those who hope for improvement in social trends would be better served by action than by dissatisfaction. They must support rational, humane media with in-depth reports. They should refuse to watch or read about subjects that upset the senses and the soul, and they'd better stop wasting time talking about subjects of no value. Taste should drive media reform, and people should support the information revolution through their actions. If a better media environment is created, the social climate will naturally take a turn for the better.

In fact, if you just get out of your corner and into the sunlight, you will discover that Taiwanese society is full of vitality. In particular, in rural communities, the friendly, warm, and guileless nature that makes up the character of Taiwanese has never disappeared.

Recently, the travel writer Chiu Yin took her daughter and two other kids on a bicycle tour around Taiwan. To train the children to be self reliant, she made them responsible for buying the food, communicating with people, putting up the camp, and other tasks. She only intervened if the children were in trouble. As a result, all along the way they discovered people of noble character who gave them both spiritual and material assistance. Chiu says that the most exciting aspect of her trip was that she rediscovered her love for and confidence in Taiwan. And her story reaffirms that material wealth is not the source of happiness. The four of them spent only about NT$10,000 on their three-week journey, but came back deeply enriched with memories that will last a lifetime.

Seeking happiness from outside is not the answer; richness of life and satisfaction come from within. Only through reflection and action, pursuit of knowledge and growth, and attention to the details of life, can we rebuild the value system of Taiwan.

In this issue are stories on the latest trends and options for graduate study, the changing structure of Taiwan's population, the impact of environmental hormones, the community regeneration movement in aboriginal villages in eastern Taiwan, the legendary master of glove puppetry Huang Hai-tai, the beginning of efforts to stage Nobel Prize laureate Gao Xingjian's Snow in August, and celebrities such as Angie Chai and Chien Wen-hsiu. Kick back, relax and read, and get a better understanding of our society, our home.